I read a significant number of the men in the town and posse were civil war veterans and had experience confronting the enemy. They were not about to be cowed by some punks with guns and big horses. They had shot at men before and been shot at themselves. I believe their marksmanship spoke for itself. They defended their town with bravery and skill.
Yes.............. but only luck provided 2 brave men with SINGLE SHOT RIFLES to actually blast the bad guys !!!! :) If the citizens had even one Winchester and some ammo, could have put down several more outlaws.
My great great grandfather was a veteran of 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry who had a farm in Janesville MN. His unit fought Quantrill during the Civil War. According to family lore, after the Northfield Raid, Jesse James and some of his company watered their horses at gunpoint on the family farm. Just thought I’d add.
I grew up in far northwestern Wisconsin and my first husband was from the Iron Range of Minnesota. His father, born and raised in Virginia, MN, was a great one to tell stories, and, after regressing a bit he’d always say, “Well, an-a-way,” as a segue to his original story, exactly like Mr. Blanshan does! It’s such a Minnesota mannerism, I love it!
I was just thinking that! My family has been in MN since they came from Norway in the 1910s and my grandma always said an-a-way to break up her thoughts 🥰
The James-Younger gang made two critical mistakes: they left their home ground where they had plenty of active and passive support, and they assumed that Northfield would be a pushover. Like most towns in that era, there were plenty of Civil War veterans in Northfield who would not shrink from some gunplay, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I've read just about everything I could find on this robbery, and this is the single best account I've ever heard. You have photos and documents that I've never seen before and didn't even know existed. Congratulations from a history teacher! I will recommend this to all my American history students.
Interesting story. Fact is stranger than fiction, and reality is not often clean- cut (e. g. The robbers are immediately captured\killed. It was a drawn - out procession of situations, issues and occurances.).
Great video Dale! I want to pass on a story that my father told me when I was a boy back in the 1970s. My Great Grandfather was born in 1866 and lived on a farm in Ringgold County, Iowa. Which is bordering the Missouri state line. Great Grandpa told my Dad that when he boy, the James Gang on several occasions would spend the night in the barn of their farm. They fed them supper. The James gang would leave early in the morning before anyone in the house was up. They always left a $20 Gold piece in the barn, as a thank you and we were never here. I don't know if the story is true but it certainly could be.
I've heard perhaps a dozen similar stories. I think in order to give any particular one credence you'd have to correlate it with a known incident involving the gang. I've heard several stories of gang members around the time of the Northfield Raid that I discount because it is known that the gang members had money from a recent robbery and that they were staying in hotels and posing as cattle buyers or real estate investors. After the Raid they were staying out of sight. On the other hand, the great number of such stories makes one wonder whether some are actually true.
Fascinating . Thank you for the more in depth back story to the failed raid on the Northfield bank and what occurred and happened both before and after the failed heist. Thank you sir, for a fine and informative history lesson.
A well worn story told in a number of movies, but Dale Blanshan tells a good tale and holds your attention. He keeps it truthful and therefore more authentic and where the exact truth isn't known (the exact position of the Youngers' capture for example) he tells you and gives reasonable assumptions, but doesn't dress 'em up as anything more. He also gives more detail than you'd expect and you can find in other resources. Enjoyed it, thanks.
What a tremendous documentary and what a great narrator! Thank you Mr. Blanshan for a top notch video, so glad I found this and I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Sir I must thank you on several levels 1) very informative - I first read about this raid when I was sixteen ( and since have read more ) and you have added much detail and 'photos 2) your detailed narrative delivered in a calm and considered manner 3) you didn't blast me out of my chair with un - necessary ( so called ) background music . Thank You .
I like the way you tell the truth about the reality of these criminal actions. Injuring a little girl and killing innocent bystanders during their robberies. That’s the devastation of their acts.
Well , I've allways been fascinated by the Wild West Times. & Have loads of Western Films aswell, Very interesting to Know the exact account on this Northfield Bank Hold up, It was to be a falier right from the Start they set foot in Northfield, Inacent people Murdered, Bank Manager, a child injured, Felt sorry for the Managers Wife & There Buitifull Daughter, Who lost her Dad , Who Brought income to the House. As we know Thanks to all the other Banks had a Collection to help them survive in life, Anyway, This was the Wild West as it was , I've nothing Personal against those outlaws, Only to say Jessie James was no Robin hood, Thanks from are History Man ? For Telling the Story about the Northfield Bank Hold up,& I believe this Gentleman himself does have a slight family History connection allso, 😊 God Bless you, Take care, ❤
I was born and raised in Northwest Missouri not far from where the James and Youngers were from, This was a very detailed account of what happened. I have toured Jesse James house where he died.
Grandma could have her land tilled for nothing had she directed the curiosity people to dig in this field for the money and not in that one. Interesting and thorough, thank you.
Being a descendant of the Younger family: a contributing factor to the reason the gang was able to escape the law for so long was their attention to horses. The Younger family came from a strong equestrian background (their grandfather, a prolific trader and better and racer of horses famously put another son on a horse in the middle of a race when another son had just been thrown and killed by the same horse). Together with Jesse, they were able to keep their horses in better condition (sometimes aided by locals) and outrun any marshals.
Brown County Texas, Cole Younger and Frank James arrive with the County Fair as For the first time a Hot Air Balloon has come. Fun was had by all with no incidence's, as Frank walked about amongst the fair goer's and Cole was entertained at a nearby restaurant....... I got real questions. help Can anyone tell me about a Hot Springs where Jessi James, John Ringold, and William Bonnie met at the Williams Ranch or even if it was a dime store novel.
@@bigglesbiggles4999 Why? If I could be transplanted to those days, I'd ride with em. Different times. Theres nothing wrong with being related to them.
Hi, I'm from UK. About 1989 I visited my son who was a Pharmacist in Thunder bay Ontario. I rented a car and drove down the lakeside road into USA .to Grand Portage , Grand Marais, Two Harbors and Duluth. Deciding to carry on to Minneapolis it was whilst on the road I recognised the name Northfield from stories and the films The Long Riders and The Great Northfield Minisota bank raid..For someone from the United Kingdom its was like visiting the old West....Wild or not!... Thanks for rekindling a memory of long ago..
I very much enjoyed this!! I lived in 1976 (the hundredth anniversary of the raid) in what was the hospital in Northfield at the time of the raid in 1876. Because it was the hundredth anniversary they had quite the shindig!
Some quick thoughts: 1) Buying so many fast horses was the robbers' first mistake. Since everyone was acquainted with horses, the gang became conspicuous since their horses were chosen for speed and endurance rather than farm work. 2) Banks didn't have insurance protection to replace stolen money, so townspeople had a real reason to defend their money. 3) Although nobody in the gang ever identified the killer of Heywood, Frank James fit the profile, as he was testy when crossed. 4) Few outlaws were excellent shots. Handguns are poor weapons when shooting at even mild distances, so the posse is likely to have had a big advantage if they had rifles. 5) A great book on this is Shot All to Hell by Mark Gardner.
Add: It was late summer and extremely hot that day and at least 1 townsfolk noticed the long dusters a couple of the outlaws wore and so thought it odd that something long and relatively heavy for the season would be worn before autumn had even yet arrived. This aroused attention and suspicion as did the fact that they were strangers and not townsfolk or locals from nearby rural farms.
Bob Younger, Charlie Pitts and Frank James were drunk when they entered the bank. They didn't expect Civil War veterans who would fight. Bill Chadwell was the only one who had a map and knew the area.
Hi Dale. Enjoyed the vid. I am from Albert Lea. I can tell from that photo of the livery near the lake that the livery was probably not quite where the library stands today. The livery was, I believe, right about at Broadway and Fountain St. near the bandshell park, near where the Masonic building, which is now the community theatre (named for Albert Lea native actress Marion Ross) is, about two blocks northwest of the library. By the way, Albert Lea, clearly a northern town, is named for a confederate military officer! Colonel Albert Miller Lea was in a US Dragoons unit that in 1836 visited the site of what became known as Albert Lea, but wound up back in the south when the war broke out. He and his son Edward both participated in the 1863 Battle of Galveston, on opposing sides! Edward perished in the battle...
I'm a truck driver from Georgia and I always been interested in history and when I went through madelia I stopped and saw that marker they had where they captured the younger I always wanted to go see the reenactment which I think they used to do every year I don't know if they do it anymore
I'm part of The Younger family tree. I'm also Alaskan Native and from a super chief blood line. I appreciate this video you have made. Very educational!
When I was a kid I used to spend my summers in Northfield at my uncle’s home. My uncle then being the president of the First National Bank in Northfield. When kids went down to the bank they could hold what was called Jesse James revolver, which they said he dropped during the robbery. Great town, and many great summers there.
Thank you. Sooo sick of seeing these villains represented as heroes. They robbed from the rich because the poor had nothing to steal, and they gave to themselves.
And killed innocent people - wonder how these sycophants would feel if it was their daughter or mother or wife who lost their life at the hands of Jesse James -
Thank you for the tremendous account and narration and compilation of all the Magnificent seven, The James gang and Cole younger gangs. Appreciate the pictures and chronology of your report and testimony. I live in Kansas City and have been up to liberty in a few of those towns Clay county
I watched some of this wonderment of a talk last night and my youtube algorithm immediately suggested a film I hadn't seen in years because I'm English and coudn't remember its name. It's called "The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid". It's a deleriously inaccurate account of the crime but it feels like there's a wider truth here about the period. Thanks Dale, always, for setting me right.
That was extraordinary. Of course I've heard of Jesse James in the younger gang but really knew very little history and you are an excellent narrator and investigator and revealer and I thank you for all your hard work, it really is very informative and most of all it teaches the futility of trying to get easy money with illegal means, it is a waste of life. Unfortunately it's the innocent people involved that suffer the most.
It is a good account even if he is a yankee but i don’t if your one . In my part of the country we have tried to forgive but ya just can’t forgive a yankee !
Wonderful. I really like the way that the tale is told from a perspective that recognises who the good guys are. It has become commonplace these days to think of the robbers and killers as the heroes of such events thanks to Hollywood.
Very interesting lecture, Mr. Blanshan! I am so impressed by the amount of research you have done and the extensive photographic evidence you've accumulated! It was also very interesting to hear about your ancestors experiences at that time. I hope to see many more of your fascinating videos!
I've read a couple Wild West books based on famous robberies. This is the most thorough and illustrative telling of the events relating to the Northfield robbery that I've ever had such pleasure to absorb. I was glued to the screen the entire time...very well done! Thank you.
Im from the area in western missouri where the youngers are from, in fact my family owns an old house that was built in the mid 1800s outside of adrian missouri where the youngers would stay periodically in between robberies & what not. I found this presentation to be very accurate to the best of my knowledge & very well done! I had a good time watching. You should do a video over the coffeyville robbery! The dalton gang tried to outdo their cousins (the youngers) by robbing two banks at one time in 1892
Hi I'm from UK.Just Been listening to a Mr Blanshan, Regarding the Youngers & Jessie James, & Your self from Missouri, Allways been interested in The Wild West, A very well Documented story Every time i see any think regarding Missouri "Yes " Jessie James & the Youngers, I do envy yourself living in this part of America, Just reading your tex The Dalton Gang trying to raid to banks, i didn't know they were cousins, I love my Westerns like so many people, Oh, is that little old House still standing,? I'd like to think so , Anyway, God Bless your self & family & America, ❤
Excellent narration, your account is very interesting. Hard to read those maps though. Lakes, abutments, and towns all melt together in a green smudge. But the whole story is immensely interesting.
We've had a perfect crime in our little town of Krugersdorp in South Africa, where the robbers have never been found and it's been 45 years. They hired the shop adjacent to the bank and papered over the windows. Over the weeks they dug a tunnel down, across and up directly into the vault. Then on the Easter weekend, they must have broken into the vault shortly after closing time on the Thursday and had the 4 days to clean out the safety deposit boxes as well as all the cash - R 430 000, when the rand was more valuable than the dollar! Way back then a massive haul. I'm sure by now the robbers must be 75-80 years old and l wonder if their fortunes have lasted till now.
And a few from The James Gang spent time in the Stillwater Minnesota prison. That prison was replaced by another prison in Bayport Minnesota. The old Stillwater prison was used as a school bus garage in the 1990’s. The school bus company moved out and developers put forth plans to redevelop the property into condos but local politicians resisted wanting to preserve the historical sight. Trespassing was a problem and people who ventured into buildings often saws ghosts. Then one night in the early fall of 2002 a fire started a burned the main building beyond recovery which then brought forth the redevelopment into a 5 building condo complex.
Fabulous and comprehensive account. (Your own connection to the area, its people and its history has obviously inspired you...) A first class history lesson. xx SF
I really enjoyed how you told the story!... Definitely a subscriber now!.. My mother's last name is "Hayes" and they owned a horse farm in Kentucky!... The men were known as "The Hayes Gang" and the court had them make a promise that they would not cause any more trouble in order to live in the city of Louisville KY. My mother told me that they had blown up the court house so that their brother could escape, but I don't know if this is true. My Great Great grandfather Eli (Elsa) Hayes had killed a man from what I found out also. I don't know much about all of it, but have news paper clippings in digital format that I have gathered over time. My Great Great Grandmother was Daisy Belle Dishman, who claimed to be a Cherokee Indian and wore Cherokee clothing. Her husband was Eli (Elsa) Hayes.
Thank you, Dale, for a superb account of this historic event. I remember watching the movie about it long ago. I will have to watch it again to see how well it jibes with your thoroughly research account. And realize how our tradition of freedoms has been protected by our precious Constitution and 2nd amendment reinforcing the notion that regular citizens should own firearms.
Excellent presentation, sir. As a boy growing up in Florida, all I ever knew about the "Cole-Younger gang" was what I had heard or seen on TV westerns. What you have given me is an accurate, historical account of that time. Thank you very much. Well done.
Just to enlighten you and for your historical growth, the gang was known as the James-younger gang ..the eldest and more experienced ruthless Younger's first name was CNN Cole,Cole is younger...there was also Bob Younger, John Younger, and Jim Younger...they were some deadly and heaseless Gangsters ..Jesse was the gangs leader Although, Jesse's older brother was frank James ..Frank was the quiet and reserved one...Jesse was the more dangerous and certainly the assertive member..it took the Pinkerton detectives about 10 years to catch and suddue these desperation.
Wow! What a story! I had heard of this famous robbery, but had no idea the robbers were running in the area for 2 weeks! Good Lord. You sir, are a brilliant story teller. Thank you the time and effort expended in your meticulous research.
I been to Northfield Minnesota I been in the bank they tried to rob. It is like a museum and is just like it was the day it was robbed by the Jame-Younger gang. It was a temporary bank while the new one was being built that mayby why it's still in original condition. They had Charlie Pitts ear on display too. My Dad was born in 1903 in 1910 or 11 he saw Frank James and Cole Younger at a personal appearance in Franklin KY. He had a post card photo of them he got at the time and had it until he died in 1974.
Absolutely marvelous. Thank you, sir. Adelbert Ames was actually the Reconstruction governor of Mississippi, however- not Missouri. Gemeral Ames served as the appointed governor in Jacckson, Mississippi . That may seem like a small point, but it is actually rather huge. Best, R.Henry, M.D.
My grandmother told me this story years ago. I believe it was her dad's dad (grandfather) who owned a business (not sure what kind) in South Dakota, just outside of Sioux Falls. One night, he had rubbed all his horses down and got them settled in and all. Next day, he went to the corral to check the horses and there were different horses, and they were all sweaty like they'd been run all night and looked worn out. Her grandfather had a theory that Jesse James or some of that group (the Youngers perhaps) came through and changed horses in the middle of the night. My grandma was born in 1907, so her grandpa would have been way back in about the time all of this happened. I guess there is evidence or stories that the James group or part of them came through that area at one time.
Not much of the James's route is known, but it is known that they went around through South Dakota, so who knows? The Youngers never made it past Madelia.
This was much more interesting and rewarding than getting lied to by Robt. Redford and the Hollywood crowd who could care less about facts and truth. I got about 8 episodes deep into the American West series and just desperately found myself in need of some reality to flush out the BS. I did enjoy your little mini-dig at the political climate of current affairs! 'Steal from the rich..." part. Good Job Sir!
That "socialism" you so disdain, puts minimal income into families, to they don't have to resort to bank robbery. After all, the word "desperado" ultimately means "of no hope."
@@StevenTorrey Most in those burgeoning times of our young history, by an extremely large margin, resorted to working and occasional help from Family. You would suggest that there are no criminals in socialist counties.
@@GranMastaDee I made no such claim. Keep in mind that local township, even back in the early days of the nation, provided for those who could not provide for themselves. They devoted as much as 25% of the town budget to what we would call "welfare".
@@StevenTorrey How ironic that you were given the name 'Torrey'. I'd be obliged otherwise young man to try and educate you on the ways of the world but I would be remiss to sully Mr. Blanshan's wonderful presentation with a debate here between the sane and the Socialist. I would instead strongly recommend that you try and wean yourself off of NPR, CNN, MSNBC, and the like and try to enjoy the wonderful results of the hopefully last stealection. Peace and Love to you Son.
What if 5 minutes before the start of the robbery....... the bank staff was told to lock the doors and leave !!!!!! Or, what if 5 of the store owners grabbed their guns and pointed them out of a number of nearby windows !!!!!!!!!
Such a great story..........and Dale does it very well. So many what if's here: What if Jesse ( or Frank ) got killed ? Save a lot of lives, folks !!!! What if the citizens had a few more minutes of warning, they could have had 5 to 8 guys with long guns walk to the bank door before anything started.
Lizzie May lived 1871 - 1947. Her Mom died when May was age 2. Dad shot when she was 5. Then step Mom died when May was 13.
I read a significant number of the men in the town and posse were civil war veterans and had experience confronting the enemy. They were not about to be cowed by some punks with guns and big horses. They had shot at men before and been shot at themselves. I believe their marksmanship spoke for itself. They defended their town with bravery and skill.
Absolutely...
My mom grew up a stone's throw from here in Owatonna and her grandfather fought in the Civil War so this story really resonates...
Yes.............. but only luck provided 2 brave men with SINGLE SHOT RIFLES to actually blast the bad guys !!!! :) If the citizens had even one Winchester and some ammo, could have put down several more outlaws.
My great great grandfather was a veteran of 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry who had a farm in Janesville MN. His unit fought Quantrill during the Civil War. According to family lore, after the Northfield Raid, Jesse James and some of his company watered their horses at gunpoint on the family farm. Just thought I’d add.
I grew up in far northwestern Wisconsin and my first husband was from the Iron Range of Minnesota. His father, born and raised in Virginia, MN, was a great one to tell stories, and, after regressing a bit he’d always say, “Well, an-a-way,” as a segue to his original story, exactly like Mr. Blanshan does! It’s such a Minnesota mannerism, I love it!
I was just thinking that! My family has been in MN since they came from Norway in the 1910s and my grandma always said an-a-way to break up her thoughts 🥰
The James-Younger gang made two critical mistakes: they left their home ground where they had plenty of active and passive support, and they assumed that Northfield would be a pushover. Like most towns in that era, there were plenty of Civil War veterans in Northfield who would not shrink from some gunplay, and the rest, as they say, is history.
@GeorgiaConfederate1995 Except in Northfield, MN, apparently.
I've read just about everything I could find on this robbery, and this is the single best account I've ever heard. You have photos and documents that I've never seen before and didn't even know existed. Congratulations from a history teacher! I will recommend this to all my American history students.
I think we can class ourselves as world authorities on the topic now!
Yes, most excellent research and scholarship.
Thanks, Jon!
@@historicaljourneyswithdale6165 My pleasure. And thank you! Keep up the great work.
Interesting story. Fact is stranger than fiction, and reality is not often clean- cut (e. g. The robbers are immediately captured\killed. It was a drawn - out procession of situations, issues and occurances.).
Excellent, just a pleasure to listen to you. How tough was Cole; he must have been a mean one. Thank you Mr. Blanshan.
Great video Dale! I want to pass on a story that my father told me when I was a boy back in the 1970s. My Great Grandfather was born in 1866 and lived on a farm in Ringgold County, Iowa. Which is bordering the Missouri state line. Great Grandpa told my Dad that when he boy, the James Gang on several occasions would spend the night in the barn of their farm. They fed them supper. The James gang would leave early in the morning before anyone in the house was up. They always left a $20 Gold piece in the barn, as a thank you and we were never here. I don't know if the story is true but it certainly could be.
I've heard perhaps a dozen similar stories. I think in order to give any particular one credence you'd have to correlate it with a known incident involving the gang. I've heard several stories of gang members around the time of the Northfield Raid that I discount because it is known that the gang members had money from a recent robbery and that they were staying in hotels and posing as cattle buyers or real estate investors. After the Raid they were staying out of sight. On the other hand, the great number of such stories makes one wonder whether some are actually true.
Thank you, Dale, your interest and hard work are very clear, I learned a great deal, peace & respect from the UK.
Fascinating . Thank you for the more in depth back story to the failed raid on the Northfield bank and what occurred and happened both before and after the failed heist. Thank you sir, for a fine and informative history lesson.
A well worn story told in a number of movies, but Dale Blanshan tells a good tale and holds your attention. He keeps it truthful and therefore more authentic and where the exact truth isn't known (the exact position of the Youngers' capture for example) he tells you and gives reasonable assumptions, but doesn't dress 'em up as anything more. He also gives more detail than you'd expect and you can find in other resources. Enjoyed it, thanks.
What a tremendous documentary and what a great narrator! Thank you Mr. Blanshan for a top notch video, so glad I found this and I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Dale, like me, you liked the happy ending of the movie Public Enemies !!!!
Jesse James lived to be 104 years old. 6:03
Sir I must thank you on several levels 1) very informative - I first read about this raid when I was sixteen ( and since have read more ) and you have added much detail and 'photos 2) your detailed narrative delivered in a calm and considered manner 3) you didn't blast me out of my chair with un - necessary ( so called ) background music . Thank You .
Thanks, Phil.
Great show! Thanks Dale!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. On our way down to winter in Houston, I was able to visit the graves of six of the eight outlaws.
This was very very excellent. Thank you for all your efforts in producing this.
Thanks, Rob.
Mr Blanshan is a wonderful story teller and paints a good picture of the robbery and its aftermath.
I like the way you tell the truth about the reality of these criminal actions. Injuring a little girl and killing innocent bystanders during their robberies. That’s the devastation of their acts.
Well , I've allways been fascinated by the Wild West Times. & Have loads of Western Films aswell, Very interesting to Know the exact account on this Northfield Bank Hold up, It was to be a falier right from the Start they set foot in Northfield, Inacent people Murdered, Bank Manager, a child injured, Felt sorry for the Managers Wife & There Buitifull Daughter, Who lost her Dad , Who Brought income to the House.
As we know Thanks to all the other Banks had a Collection to help them survive in life, Anyway, This was the Wild West as it was , I've nothing Personal against those outlaws, Only to say Jessie James was no Robin hood,
Thanks from are History Man ? For Telling the Story about the Northfield Bank Hold up,& I believe this Gentleman himself does have a slight family History connection allso, 😊
God Bless you, Take care, ❤
Fascinating and wonderfully detailed! The best thing I've seen on this subject. Thanks so much.
Best thing I’ve watched on TH-cam for ages, makes a change from all the doom and gloom about at the moment 👍🏻👍🏻
I was born and raised in Northwest Missouri not far from where the James and Youngers were from, This was a very detailed account of what happened. I have toured Jesse James house where he died.
Grandma could have her land tilled for nothing had she directed the curiosity people to dig in this field for the money and not in that one. Interesting and thorough, thank you.
She mentioned a circle of thirteen trees that attracted to most attention from the diggers. I've never been able to identify it, though.
Being a descendant of the Younger family: a contributing factor to the reason the gang was able to escape the law for so long was their attention to horses. The Younger family came from a strong equestrian background (their grandfather, a prolific trader and better and racer of horses famously put another son on a horse in the middle of a race when another son had just been thrown and killed by the same horse). Together with Jesse, they were able to keep their horses in better condition (sometimes aided by locals) and outrun any marshals.
Brown County Texas, Cole Younger and Frank James arrive with the County Fair as For the first time a Hot Air Balloon has come. Fun was had by all with no incidence's, as Frank walked about amongst the fair goer's and Cole was entertained at a nearby restaurant....... I got real questions. help
Can anyone tell me about a Hot Springs where Jessi James, John Ringold, and William Bonnie met at the Williams Ranch or even if it was a dime store novel.
My granddaughter was also a descendant from the younger's
Sounds like all of America claims to be related to the murderous Younger's....not something I would want to brag about
@@bigglesbiggles4999 Why? If I could be transplanted to those days, I'd ride with em. Different times. Theres nothing wrong with being related to them.
@@bigglesbiggles4999 better than being with BLM... just an example
Well done. Enjoyed the history lesson and story.
Thankyou everyone for your reply, Much appreciated, didn't exspect so many, God Bless you all, I'm saving this.❤.
Hi, I'm from UK. About 1989 I visited my son who was a Pharmacist in Thunder bay Ontario. I rented a car and drove down the lakeside road into USA .to Grand Portage , Grand Marais, Two Harbors and Duluth. Deciding to carry on to Minneapolis it was whilst on the road I recognised the name Northfield from stories and the films The Long Riders and The Great Northfield Minisota bank raid..For someone from the United Kingdom its was like visiting the old West....Wild or not!... Thanks for rekindling a memory of long ago..
I very much enjoyed this!! I lived in 1976 (the hundredth anniversary of the raid) in what was the hospital in Northfield at the time of the raid in 1876. Because it was the hundredth anniversary they had quite the shindig!
As a fellow Minnesotan thank you for this documentary. Love the way you tell the story, makes you feel like you were actually there.
Thanks, Jacob!
@Historical Journeys with Dale Blanshan no, thank you!
Some quick thoughts: 1) Buying so many fast horses was the robbers' first mistake. Since everyone was acquainted with horses, the gang became conspicuous since their horses were chosen for speed and endurance rather than farm work. 2) Banks didn't have insurance protection to replace stolen money, so townspeople had a real reason to defend their money. 3) Although nobody in the gang ever identified the killer of Heywood, Frank James fit the profile, as he was testy when crossed. 4) Few outlaws were excellent shots. Handguns are poor weapons when shooting at even mild distances, so the posse is likely to have had a big advantage if they had rifles. 5) A great book on this is Shot All to Hell by Mark Gardner.
Add: It was late summer and extremely hot that day and at least 1 townsfolk noticed the long dusters a couple of the outlaws
wore and so thought it odd that something long and relatively heavy for the season would be worn before autumn had even yet arrived. This aroused attention and suspicion as did the fact that they were strangers and not townsfolk or locals from nearby rural farms.
Bob Younger, Charlie Pitts and Frank James were drunk when they entered the bank. They didn't expect Civil War veterans who would fight. Bill Chadwell was the only one who had a map and knew the area.
@@shooterqqqq That always puzzled me,the story that some of the boys were drunk.It makes so sense.
The guerrilla tactics was why they were hard to catch.
@@susanmccormick6022 Criminals are not known for being smart.
Fascinating for a cold, cloudy Saturday afternoon.
Excellent presentation Dale. Really enjoyed the pictures, now and then.Many thanks.
Thanks, Paul!
Hi Dale. Enjoyed the vid. I am from Albert Lea. I can tell from that photo of the livery near the lake that the livery was probably not quite where the library stands today. The livery was, I believe, right about at Broadway and Fountain St. near the bandshell park, near where the Masonic building, which is now the community theatre (named for Albert Lea native actress Marion Ross) is, about two blocks northwest of the library. By the way, Albert Lea, clearly a northern town, is named for a confederate military officer! Colonel Albert Miller Lea was in a US Dragoons unit that in 1836 visited the site of what became known as Albert Lea, but wound up back in the south when the war broke out. He and his son Edward both participated in the 1863 Battle of Galveston, on opposing sides! Edward perished in the battle...
Thanks! I'll have to go back and look again.
Great job Mr Dale, I'm an avid old west reader Mr self..forgive my typo where I somehow typed CNN mistakenly sir...tremendous effort.
I'm a truck driver from Georgia and I always been interested in history and when I went through madelia I stopped and saw that marker they had where they captured the younger I always wanted to go see the reenactment which I think they used to do every year I don't know if they do it anymore
Woow...never read, saw or heard something this good on that Northfield robbery...awesome
Thanks, J.C.!
I'm part of The Younger family tree. I'm also Alaskan Native and from a super chief blood line. I appreciate this video you have made. Very educational!
Hi, Stefan. It would be interesting to know how you were related.
Stefan Taylor: Fascinating.The Youngers have always fascinated me.Especially Jim.Have you been to Lees Summit?Which daughter are u descended from?
When I was a kid I used to spend my summers in Northfield at my uncle’s home. My uncle then being the president of the First National Bank in Northfield. When kids went down to the bank they could hold what was called Jesse James revolver, which they said he dropped during the robbery. Great town, and many great summers there.
I read somewhere this gun, or one of the guns of the gang, maybe a younger , went at auction for a couple million dollars , it’s on TH-cam somewhere
Thanks very great job. From Bangkok with love...
Thank you. Sooo sick of seeing these villains represented as heroes. They robbed from the rich because the poor had nothing to steal, and they gave to themselves.
Are ya now
You are also yankee
They basically are heroes though
Skin that smoke wagon you'll be daisy if u do
And killed innocent people - wonder how these sycophants would feel if it was their daughter or mother or wife who lost their life at the hands of Jesse James -
Thank you for the tremendous account and narration and compilation of all the Magnificent seven, The James gang and Cole younger gangs. Appreciate the pictures and chronology of your report and testimony. I live in Kansas City and have been up to liberty in a few of those towns Clay county
Thanks, Ben. I finally made it to the Liberty bank, too. It's always fascinating to stand right on the spot and let your imagination run wild.
Absolute excellent job of presenting the information you’ve accumulated.
outlaws r stink on stink, just go under the ground
I watched some of this wonderment of a talk last night and my youtube algorithm immediately suggested a film I hadn't seen in years because I'm English and coudn't remember its name. It's called "The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid". It's a deleriously inaccurate account of the crime but it feels like there's a wider truth here about the period. Thanks Dale, always, for setting me right.
That was extraordinary. Of course I've heard of Jesse James in the younger gang but really knew very little history and you are an excellent narrator and investigator and revealer and I thank you for all your hard work, it really is very informative and most of all it teaches the futility of trying to get easy money with illegal means, it is a waste of life. Unfortunately it's the innocent people involved that suffer the most.
It is a good account even if he is a yankee but i don’t if your one . In my part of the country we have tried to forgive but ya just can’t forgive a yankee !
@@bjmartin5225 what makes you think we'll forgive you?
Well presented Mr. Blanshan.
Wonderful. I really like the way that the tale is told from a perspective that recognises who the good guys are. It has become commonplace these days to think of the robbers and killers as the heroes of such events thanks to Hollywood.
Really enjoyed the trip into our history. Thanks!
OUTSTANDING! You did an amazing job on this and I have already watched it twice! BRAVO!
Thanks, John.
Brilliant
Very interesting lecture, Mr. Blanshan! I am so impressed by the amount of research you have done and the extensive photographic evidence you've accumulated! It was also very interesting to hear about your ancestors experiences at that time. I hope to see many more of your fascinating videos!
Thanks, Sunsetter!
I've read a couple Wild West books based on famous robberies. This is the most thorough and illustrative telling of the events relating to the Northfield robbery that I've ever had such pleasure to absorb. I was glued to the screen the entire time...very well done! Thank you.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I enjoyed that very much sir. Very nicely presented and the photographs were interesting.
Thank you, Robert.
Great , informative video . With pictures of where it all happened and explanations. Well done !!
Thanks!
Im from the area in western missouri where the youngers are from, in fact my family owns an old house that was built in the mid 1800s outside of adrian missouri where the youngers would stay periodically in between robberies & what not. I found this presentation to be very accurate to the best of my knowledge & very well done! I had a good time watching. You should do a video over the coffeyville robbery! The dalton gang tried to outdo their cousins (the youngers) by robbing two banks at one time in 1892
I do touch on the Coffeyville robberies in another, unpublished program. Another fascinating story.
In my community, there was an article of a woman in a nursing home. She was the daughter of the town marshal who was killed in that robbery.
@@historicaljourneyswithdale6165 can you show that here ?
Hi I'm from UK.Just Been listening to a Mr Blanshan, Regarding the Youngers & Jessie James, & Your self from Missouri, Allways been interested in The Wild West, A very well Documented story Every time i see any think regarding Missouri "Yes " Jessie James & the Youngers,
I do envy yourself living in this part of America, Just reading your tex The Dalton Gang trying to raid to banks, i didn't know they were cousins,
I love my Westerns like so many people,
Oh, is that little old House still standing,?
I'd like to think so ,
Anyway, God Bless your self & family &
America, ❤
Excellent narration, your account is very interesting. Hard to read those maps though. Lakes, abutments, and towns all melt together in a green smudge. But the whole story is immensely interesting.
Thanks for your great presentation
Such a fabulous story and story-teller! Unusual info-some I have never heard before.
Thanks, Running Girl!
We've had a perfect crime in our little town of Krugersdorp in South Africa, where the robbers have never been found and it's been 45 years. They hired the shop adjacent to the bank and papered over the windows. Over the weeks they dug a tunnel down, across and up directly into the vault. Then on the Easter weekend, they must have broken into the vault shortly after closing time on the Thursday and had the 4 days to clean out the safety deposit boxes as well as all the cash - R 430 000, when the rand was more valuable than the dollar! Way back then a massive haul. I'm sure by now the robbers must be 75-80 years old and l wonder if their fortunes have lasted till now.
Thank you very, very much. Very, very enjoyable.
Fantastic video!! So many interesting facts and photos I have never seeng. THANK you so. Subbing.
And a few from The James Gang spent time in the Stillwater Minnesota prison. That prison was replaced by another prison in Bayport Minnesota. The old Stillwater prison was used as a school bus garage in the 1990’s. The school bus company moved out and developers put forth plans to redevelop the property into condos but local politicians resisted wanting to preserve the historical sight. Trespassing was a problem and people who ventured into buildings often saws ghosts. Then one night in the early fall of 2002 a fire started a burned the main building beyond recovery which then brought forth the redevelopment into a 5 building condo complex.
Thank you Dale. A thoroughly enjoyable presentation. (England).
Thank you. Very nice presentation.
Very well read! I found this and I had to watch cause it's fascinating! Thank you for posting!
Thanks!
Excellent factual presentation...well done and Than you Sir.
Thanks, David!
Great story! Thank you for telling us. All the best from Germany.
Thank you. Good report.
Very extraordinary. Great historian and storyteller.
I could listen to Mr. Blanshan talk history all day long!
Thank you, Robert!
..your collection, narration and relatives'
actual connection to events is
fascinating.
What a fascinating documentary! Well researched Thanks so much!
Thanks, Joe.
Fabulous and comprehensive account. (Your own connection to the area, its people and its history has obviously inspired you...) A first class history lesson. xx SF
Thanks, Steve!
Thank you for this thoroughly interesting video.
Best wishes from Yorkshire, England.
Thanks, Jo!
Very much enjoyed your video. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
I really enjoyed how you told the story!... Definitely a subscriber now!.. My mother's last name is "Hayes" and they owned a horse farm in Kentucky!... The men were known as "The Hayes Gang" and the court had them make a promise that they would not cause any more trouble in order to live in the city of Louisville KY. My mother told me that they had blown up the court house so that their brother could escape, but I don't know if this is true. My Great Great grandfather Eli (Elsa) Hayes had killed a man from what I found out also. I don't know much about all of it, but have news paper clippings in digital format that I have gathered over time. My Great Great Grandmother was Daisy Belle Dishman, who claimed to be a Cherokee Indian and wore Cherokee clothing. Her husband was Eli (Elsa) Hayes.
Sounds like you should be writing a story, Netsurfer!
I appreciate you for sharing story of the wild west bank robberies .
And got caught up at the
End .
Absolutely wonderful, many thanks.
Thanks, Frances!
#HistoricalJourneys
Thank you! This was good!
ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING. You are an excellent story teller. I love history and you made this account from our past come alive. Thank You.
Thanks, George!
Thank you, Dale, for a superb account of this historic event.
I remember watching the movie about it long ago.
I will have to watch it again to see how well it jibes with your thoroughly research account.
And realize how our tradition of freedoms has been protected by our precious Constitution and 2nd amendment reinforcing the notion that regular citizens should own firearms.
Exactly. If we lost our 2nd Amendment rights, the FBI could come in to our towns just like the James-Younger gang did.
Excellent presentation, sir.
As a boy growing up in Florida, all I ever knew about the "Cole-Younger gang" was what I had heard or seen on TV westerns. What you have given me is an accurate, historical account of that time.
Thank you very much. Well done.
Just to enlighten you and for your historical growth, the gang was known as the James-younger gang ..the eldest and more experienced ruthless Younger's first name was CNN Cole,Cole is younger...there was also Bob Younger, John Younger, and Jim Younger...they were some deadly and heaseless Gangsters ..Jesse was the gangs leader Although, Jesse's older brother was frank James ..Frank was the quiet and reserved one...Jesse was the more dangerous and certainly the assertive member..it took the Pinkerton detectives about 10 years to catch and suddue these desperation.
Very interesting and well presented, thanks.
Thanks!
Great video! I loved it!!
brill job Mr Blanshan
Wow! What a story! I had heard of this famous robbery, but had no idea the robbers were running in the area for 2 weeks! Good Lord.
You sir, are a brilliant story teller.
Thank you the time and effort expended in your meticulous research.
That's very kind of you!
I been to Northfield Minnesota I been in the bank they tried to rob. It is like a museum and is just like it was the day it was robbed by the Jame-Younger gang. It was a temporary bank while the new one was being built that mayby why it's still in original condition. They had Charlie Pitts ear on display too. My Dad was born in 1903 in 1910 or 11 he saw Frank James and Cole Younger at a personal appearance in Franklin KY. He had a post card photo of them he got at the time and had it until he died in 1974.
It's amazing to stand right on the spot where the robbery took place, isn't it? Do you still have the postcard? I'd like to see it.
Very well researched and presented. Thank you so much.
Great facts about them, Mr Blanshan, always a fascinating subject, love the old photos
Very interesting and very informative program! I enjoyed it immensely!
Thanks you answered a lot of my questions. Great job!
Thank You Sir.
I’ve always liked history & hope we can learn at least a little from the telling of it. Keep up the good work.
Absolutely marvelous. Thank you, sir. Adelbert Ames was actually the Reconstruction governor of Mississippi, however- not Missouri. Gemeral Ames served as the appointed governor in Jacckson, Mississippi . That may seem like a small point, but it is actually rather huge.
Best,
R.Henry, M.D.
I hate it when that happens. Thanks for the correction!
I like how this was presented. I like history and I'm particularly interested in the james and younger gangs.thanks
My grandmother told me this story years ago. I believe it was her dad's dad (grandfather) who owned a business (not sure what kind) in South Dakota, just outside of Sioux Falls. One night, he had rubbed all his horses down and got them settled in and all. Next day, he went to the corral to check the horses and there were different horses, and they were all sweaty like they'd been run all night and looked worn out. Her grandfather had a theory that Jesse James or some of that group (the Youngers perhaps) came through and changed horses in the middle of the night. My grandma was born in 1907, so her grandpa would have been way back in about the time all of this happened. I guess there is evidence or stories that the James group or part of them came through that area at one time.
Not much of the James's route is known, but it is known that they went around through South Dakota, so who knows? The Youngers never made it past Madelia.
Thank you Sir. I love history so very much. I could set all day and listen to you.
Thanks, Don!
Great story Dale
Thanks, Mike.
Thank you sir. You are full of knowledge and I am thankful for sharing what you know.
This was much more interesting and rewarding than getting lied to by Robt. Redford and the Hollywood crowd who could care less about facts and truth. I got about 8 episodes deep into the American West series and just desperately found myself in need of some reality to flush out the BS. I did enjoy your little mini-dig at the political climate of current affairs! 'Steal from the rich..." part. Good Job Sir!
That "socialism" you so disdain, puts minimal income into families, to they don't have to resort to bank robbery. After all, the word "desperado" ultimately means "of no hope."
It’s hardly Robert Redfords fault is it? He has to follow a script
@@StevenTorrey Most in those burgeoning times of our young history, by an extremely large margin, resorted to working and occasional help from Family. You would suggest that there are no criminals in socialist counties.
@@GranMastaDee I made no such claim. Keep in mind that local township, even back in the early days of the nation, provided for those who could not provide for themselves. They devoted as much as 25% of the town budget to what we would call "welfare".
@@StevenTorrey How ironic that you were given the name 'Torrey'. I'd be obliged otherwise young man to try and educate you on the ways of the world but I would be remiss to sully Mr. Blanshan's wonderful presentation with a debate here between the sane and the Socialist. I would instead strongly recommend that you try and wean yourself off of NPR, CNN, MSNBC, and the like and try to enjoy the wonderful results of the hopefully last stealection. Peace and Love to you Son.
Interesting and very nicely done.
This is the answer to the modern gang problem.
What if 5 minutes before the start of the robbery....... the bank staff was told to lock the doors and leave !!!!!! Or, what if 5 of the store owners grabbed their guns and pointed them out of a number of nearby windows !!!!!!!!!
Such a great story..........and Dale does it very well. So many what if's here: What if Jesse ( or Frank ) got killed ? Save a lot of lives, folks !!!! What if the citizens had a few more minutes of warning, they could have had 5 to 8 guys with long guns walk to the bank door before anything started.
L ove theseold stories and photos! Amazing and fascinating!
Thanks, Jason!
Very good, sir. Thank you!
Living in the UK I really enjoyed that, a great video, thankyou.